The dirtiest place on a plane is actually staring right at us
A new survey has revealed the most unhygienic habits passengers do on planes, and the top one isn't walking into the toilet barefoot.
The seat pocket has been branded the dirtiest spot in research by UK travel insurance company AllClear.
It surveyed 2000 people, with 30 per cent of respondents saying they store food and personal items in them.
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A new survey has revealed the most unhygienic habits passengers do on planes. Getty
Researchers spoke to former flight attendants who say the pockets are rarely properly cleaned and they have witnessed passengers dumping dirty nappies and used sick bags in them.
The advice to passengers is to store snacks in resealable containers and to sanitise their hands if they use the pockets.
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The second nastiest habit is resting your head on the tray table, with 19 per cent of people admitting to doing this.
Third is those who love to go barefoot, or use only socks, while in the toilet.
One in five passengers said they were guilty of this, but a flight attendant also added: "The flooring where the trolleys are kept is one of the areas that doesn't get cleaned as much."
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Researchers spoke to former flight attendants who say the pockets are rarely properly cleaned. Getty
The best advice is to wear disposable slippers or use the socks provided by the airline.
Further down the list, but no less gross: one in 20 travellers admitted to clipping fingernails or toenails while on a plane, while a further six per cent say they've plucked their own hairs mid-flight too.
Letitia Smith, head of communications at AllClear, said staying healthy during the journey is important: "Simple habits such as using hand sanitiser, bringing protective footwear, or avoiding personal grooming in shared spaces can make a big difference.
"We want people to enjoy their holidays without picking up illnesses that could potentially be avoided with a little bit of preparation."
It's not the first time seat pockets have been declared one of the dirtiest spots on a plane.
The best advice for using the loo is to wear disposable slippers or use the socks provided by the airline. Getty
A study conducted on behalf of Canadian broadcaster CBC revealed a list of rogue areas where mould and bacteria can form. Other hotspots included the bathroom door handle and the seat belt.
In a Washington Post article, a health expert recommended passengers should bring their own blankets and pillows on board, put any food into containers and avoid touching the in-flight magazines.
"That's a place where [travellers] don't often think about germs," said Tania Elliott, attending physician at NYU Langone Health and a board-certified allergist and internist.
"You're not necessarily thinking about the person before you who's potentially had, like, snot all over their hands. Now you're reading through the same magazine."
This story was originally published by Stuff and has been reproduced here with permission.
